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WILMINGTON – On the next-to-last day of the season – the day the Blue Rocks were officially eliminated from Carolina League playoff contention – a 45-minute rain delay prolonged the ninth inning Sunday afternoon at Frawley Stadium.

It has been that kind of year.

The Rocks jumped out to an early lead, but couldn't hold it and only managed five hits in a 4-1 loss to the Salem Red Sox. They fell to 31-37 in the second half, 64-72 overall with one game remaining, against Salem at 1:05 p.m. Monday.

After 136 games, the Rocks are tired and sore and many of them are probably eager to start the offseason. But bench coach Justin Gemoll, who is filling in as manager Darryl Kennedy takes time off for personal reasons, said that's just part of professional baseball.

"The only time you're really going to feel great is the day before spring training starts," Gemoll said. "Otherwise, as the season goes on, it wears on your body. That's where the mental toughness comes in, just knowing that hey, this is your job, you've got to come out every day and give it what you've got."

The Rocks' best effort wasn't quite enough Sunday, although they did take a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Bubba Starling walked, stole second and scored on a single by Brett Eibner.

But catcher Jake Romanski, Salem's No. 8 hitter, went 4 for 4 with four doubles and two RBIs to provide all the offense the Red Sox would need. Romanski drove in Kendrick Perkins in the fifth, then moved to third on Dreily Guerrero's single and scored on a wild pickoff throw by Rocks starter Miguel Almonte.

Another Romanski double in the seventh drove in the third run, and the Red Sox scored in the ninth on back-to-back triples by Reed Gragnani and Mario Martinez. The first three-bagger came before the rain delay; the second one came right after play resumed.

The other seven Carolina League teams are bunched between .263 and .256 in team batting average, but the Rocks are reaching the finish line a distant eighth at .223. They also entered Sunday last in runs scored with 467 – 114 behind the next-to-last team.

One reason for that may be the Rocks' youth. The roster is loaded with some of the Kansas City Royals' top prospects, but one of the things that often increases a player's rating is his youth. The average age of Carolina League players is 22.9, but nine of the Rocks' current 13 position players are 22 or younger.

"It's how you hit with runners in scoring position," Gemoll said. "A lot of that, with the young kids, is they get really anxious and start swinging at pitches that aren't the right pitch. It's a tough thing. You see it in the major leagues, too. Guys chase with runners in scoring position."

So it has been a season of growing pains, but Gemoll doesn't put the blame on Frawley Stadium. Long one of the most stingy home run parks in the minor leagues, the Rocks have managed to clear the fences at Frawley only 28 times in 68 home games.

"This park teaches you that you've got to hit line drives, keep the ball out of the air," Gemoll said. "You'll see that in the minor leagues at various ballparks. Some are easier to hit at, some are not. But that's part of the game, learning how to deal with the different elements."

Gemoll knows. The former Royals prospect hit .310 in his only season with the Blue Rocks in 2002.